What (else) we do.

When people think about the Red Cross, they generally think of only one thing at a time.  Like Blood donations, or disaster relief.  But we do SO MUCH MORE than that.

Here are our top 4 least known, but not least important programs:

Some of our Youth get ready for SafeRides

1. Non Emergency Medical Transportation for elderly and low income patients.

We take people who would otherwise have great difficulties getting to their medical appointments over the hill to hospitals such as the VA, Stanford and UCSF.  This service is the only lifeline for many of our clients.  The service is free and the program is funded entirely by donations.

2. Service to the Armed Forces and their families

One of our oldest service lines is our service to the armed forces.  We help deliver emergency messages to military members abroad and offer the families services such as counseling, financial aid, and more.  In the event of a family emergency, we help bring military members home to be with their families.

Visiting Troops in the Hospital

3. Youth Services

Thanks to our Youth Services Manager, Katie Radvanyi, we have a flourishing Youth Services Department.  The department helps high school and college students create and implement youth run programs including events for the Measles Initiative and Safe Rides for Teens, a program offering rides home to youth who find themselves in a dangerous situation.  In the past, Youth Services has done programs such as Operation: Care and Comfort, which sent donated items to military oversees.  Youth Services even has its own core of disaster services volunteers who are learning how to work in a Red Cross shelter.

4. Holocaust Tracing

The Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center is a national clearinghouse for persons seeking the fates of loved ones

The Bay Area Red Cross Chapter helped Rosa (Pictured) find out what happened to her parents and baby brother during WWII

missing since the Holocaust and its aftermath.  It assists U.S. residents searching for proof of internment, forced/slave labor, or evacuation from former Soviet territories on themselves or family members.

• All tracing services are free of charge.
• They use the worldwide network of more than 180 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and the Magen David Adom in Israel.
• They also consult museums, archives, and international organizations to further facilitate tracing requests.
• Cases remain open, and if new information becomes available, it is immediately shared with the inquirer.

As a chapter, we facilitate communications between this important branch of the Red Cross and people who may need the service in our area.

See anything you’re interested in?  There are volunteer opportunities!  Shoot us an email at volunteer@sccredcross.org

This is honest to goodness trouble.

When Shirley Temple wasn’t begging for a Zoo Animal for Christmas, or singing about candy or gum drops or some other such thing, she was supporting the American Red Cross!

Did you know that it still only takes a dollar to join the Santa Cruz County Chapter?  Anyone who volunteers or donates is considered a member of our chapter.

2009 Hero Award Winners!

I am so excited to announce our 2009 Hero Award Winners!  We can’t fit the whole story on our blog – so if you’d like to join us at or 2009 Heroes Breakfast – give us a call! 462-2881

Animal Rescue Heroes

Krista Locatelli, Mary Sullivan-White, Lyn Hood and Todd Stosuy

Together, these heroes saved over 900 animals during the Summit, Martin and Trabing Fires of 2008

Youth Hero:

Jeff Kyrnitszke

Jeff saved the life of a classmate who was choking by performing the Heimlich maneuver.

Workplace Hero:

Enrique Rosas

Enrique saved the life of a coworker who had an epileptic seizure in the fields.

Law Enforcement Heroes

Officer Christian Thompson, Officer Guillermo Vazquez and CSO Jesus Tony Mendoza

The three officers helped save the life of a young woman who overdosed on prescription medication.

Rescue Professional Hero

Michael G. Kretsch

Firefighter and Paramedic Michael G. Kretsch responded to several life threatening emergencies in his career. In January of 2008, he saved the life of an 86 year old woman who was caught in a home fire.

Good Samaritan Hero

Wilma Field

Wilma helped save the life of a young boy who had fallen into the San Lorenzo River.

Medical Professional Hero

Dr. Diane Bridgeman

Diane established and maintains the Mental Health Disaster Response Team at the Santa Cruz County Red Cross.

Education Hero

Carmelita Austin-Scherer

After surviving cancer, Carmelita founded the African American Community Health Group of the Central Coast – an organization that provides health information to the often undeserved African American population of the Central Coast.

Military Hero

Maurice “Rick” Ricketts

Maurice is an 86 year old Navy veteran of WWII. He’s been an active member of the VFW since 1979 and has kept the HAM radio station alive since then.

Lifetime Achievement

Terry Medina

Terry Medina has been in the Santa Cruz Law Enforcement community since 1966. During his tenure, Terry has worked to develop outreach programs to improve the quality of public safety. Terry has been a leader in developing proactive programs that help prevent and deter potential offenders and prevent criminal acts before they occur. Terry will be retiring December 2009.

Eleanor Wasson Award for Excellence in Public Service

Wayne Shaffer

Wayne Shaffer is the founder and Board President of Siena House Maternity Home, a safe place for women with crisis pregnancy to stay and learn the skills they need to be successful.

Are you SURE you don’t know a Hero?

This Friday, April 10, is the deadline to nominate your hero for the 4th Annual Heroes Breakfast Awards (May 20).

Of course we have traditional heroes on our list – Medical Heroes, Rescue Professional Heroes, Military Heroes, Law Enforcement Heroes – heroes who touch (and in some cases Save) our lives every day.  The Heroes Breakfast is about honoring not only these brave men and women, but also the heroes you might not hear about.  They babysitter who saves a child from choking because a parrot came to warn her… for…instance…

Yes, animals can be nominated in the Animal Rescue category – but it would have to be as good as little Willie.

You can also nominate groups for any of our award categories.  For instance, if a certain fire company saved your home last summer, you could nominate the whole group.  We’re aware that it is a hard thing to find one hero to represent all of the professional heroes in Santa Cruz County!

Also, heroes do not need to have saved a life!  Heroes can be individuals that put a little extra into the community each year, or work hard to give others the things they need.

So, are you sure you don’t know a hero?

Nominate your hero at sccredcross.org.

Babysitter’s Training: For the cool kids.

When I was younger, I remember going to take the American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training class at the Baypark Square Mall in Green Bay.  Oh, my gravy I can remember the day I got that certificate.  I was the happiest girl in Happy Town.

Well, since I was 13, the Red Cross Babysitting class has changed somewhat – and like every new kid’s toy I wish I could have had back in the day- it is so much COOLER!

Our chapter’s Babysitter’s Training class now includes infant and child CPR in addition to rescue breathing and alleviating choking (the Heimlich maneuver).  Plus kids get a first aid kit with the class, a book with a DVD including resume templates and emergency contact lists, a pocket version of the Babysitter’s training book to take with on the job, PLUS the super awesome certification card at the end – sure to impress friends and possible clients.

The skills gained from the course go way beyond CPR and First Aid.  Kids will learn how to interview for the job, responsibility and safety skills, and basic care such as diapering and feeding.  They even learn how to use a cloth diaper.  What can we say?  We’re teaching preparedness, here!

We’re scheduling at least two classes a month here at our chapter, you can check out www.sccredcross.org for dates and times.  There is a link to the babysitting courses on the bottom left-hand side of the page.  The babysitting course is for 11-15 year olds Only!

Don’t Donate.

I love things that youth do.  Probably because I’m still technically what everyone around here keeps calling a “Spring Chicken.”  Whatever that means.

Anyway… I just found this killer video created by some Red Cross Youth members.  It made me giggle.  Perhaps it will make you giggle as well.  And then… have an unexplainable need to donate…

Gosh, we’re clever.

There’s a good chance that if you don’t know CPR, you’ll be eaten by a bear.

…ok, ok, I don’t want any phone calls from the big guys.  But, lets say you were being chased by a bear… wouldn’t it be comforting to know CPR and First Aid?  We think so.  That’s why we’re telling the world with our brand new PSA!  Look for it soon on the CW and KION.

American Red Cross Youth Dance

I’ve noticed that a lot of you have been searching for information about our upcoming youth dance.  Here’s the info:

American Red Cross Youth Dance

Space is limited!! To purchase tickets, please email Katie at kradvanyi@sccredcross.org

When:   Saturday, March 14, 2009
Where:  Aptos Village Park Clubhouse, 100 Aptos Creek Road, Aptos
(by Nicene Marks)
Time:     8-11 pm, doors close at 8:30
Theme:  Sports

Spring = Events and TV

http://www.toothpastefordinner.com

It has been ever-so-long since we’ve updated our blog… but my spidey senses (blog stats) tell me that plenty of you have stopped by to see the new blog layout.  Hope you love it.

Here at the chapter, we have events coming out of our ears.  Check it out:

March 2 – Old and New Volunteer Open House (if you’ve been thinking about volunteering, this is your chance to ask all the questions you’ve never been able to ask – no obligation, we promise. Email volunteer@sccredcross.org for more info.)

March 7 – Red Cross Youth Dance @ Live Oak Grange Hall (email kradvanyi@sccredcross.org for info)

March 14 – Free CPR Saturday (Classes in Spanish still available!)

May 9 – the Human Race  – We’re starting a team this year!  You can Join us here.

May 20 – 4th Annual Heroes Breakfast Awards (We’re accepting nominations now!)

In addition to our many upcoming events, we  have some really awesome PSAs hitting the airwaves through the new-fangled magic of the television machine!  You can see our very first completed chapter PSA on our YouTube account.  Our not yet released series of PSAs should be hitting our YouTube and the airwaves (via KION, the CW, Nickelodeon, Food Network, TBS, Comedy Central, Animal Planet and ABC Family) sometime in March and will star 4 of our Youth Club Members.  I have to stay hush-hush about this… but i can tell you it involves animals and unfortunate situations… more to come…